Balas appointed as new principal at Wakefield

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does APS keep hiring people from the Alexandria system? They don't have any experience with rigor. APS needs more rigor, not less.

It’s simple. APS pays more.

[Anonymous]

I think ACPS and APS pay is pretty similar, but if you're a long time employee, then you have missed some increases for at least 3-4 years when the school board didn't approve it. So, if you move over and APS counts all your years of experience, then you will make more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why does APS keep hiring people from the Alexandria system? They don't have any experience with rigor. APS needs more rigor, not less.

Your belief that there is no “rigor” and thus no good educators in ACPS suggests you should probably keep your thoughts to yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think ACPS and APS pay is pretty similar, but if you're a long time employee, then you have missed some increases for at least 3-4 years when the school board didn't approve it. So, if you move over and APS counts all your years of experience, then you will make more.

They won’t count all your insurance and you’ll pay a lot more for your benefits in APS but I’d still rather work in Arlington.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think ACPS and APS pay is pretty similar, but if you're a long time employee, then you have missed some increases for at least 3-4 years when the school board didn't approve it. So, if you move over and APS counts all your years of experience, then you will make more.

They won’t count all your insurance and you’ll pay a lot more for your benefits in APS but I’d still rather work in Arlington.

You mean they won't count all your experience? How so? APS pay scale is not very clear to read, so please shed some light on it!

[Anonymous]

Leave payouts in APS are top in the region. Health benefits for retirees too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think ACPS and APS pay is pretty similar, but if you're a long time employee, then you have missed some increases for at least 3-4 years when the school board didn't approve it. So, if you move over and APS counts all your years of experience, then you will make more.

They won’t count all your insurance and you’ll pay a lot more for your benefits in APS but I’d still rather work in Arlington.

You mean they won't count all your experience? How so? APS pay scale is not very clear to read, so please shed some light on it!

Yes, I meant experience. In the past it’s said steps do not equal experience. Other counties do this too, many have maximum entry steps

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good riddance.

“I Urge you to cast your vote for one high school,” Balas, a former social studies teacher at the school, said in an impassioned plea during the public comment portion of the meeting. “T.C. is the heart of the city.
“I strongly encourage you to support our diversity as one of our greatest strengths,” he continued. “Our Titans experience diversity greater than anywhere else in this country. Two high schools lead us down a path of divisive battles [with] inequity between the two schools and leaving certain groups facing increasing disenfranchisement. These inequities will become deeper over time. Separation may be in our school’s name, but you can oppose it by voting to keep us together.”

Arlington has three high schools and two mid-size high school programs so his past statement is not entirely relevant to APS. Wakefield should be a very good fit, with less stress.

Interestingly, Wakefield manages open campus lunch much better than in Alexandria, despite similar demographics. Wakefield is a much smaller school than ACHS, which might have something to do with it. I think Alexandria could really benefit from two high schools with all the growth.

I don’t think it is size alone. There has to be a lot more to the differences. The racial and economic demographics may be the same, but Wakefield students far outperform ACHS students. So I’m personally not at all excited that someone long entrenched into the failing Alexandria school system is coming to APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why does APS keep hiring people from the Alexandria system? They don't have any experience with rigor. APS needs more rigor, not less.

Your belief that there is no “rigor” and thus no good educators in ACPS suggests you should probably keep your thoughts to yourself.

Not the PP but I'm curious, why should someone censor their opinion and lived experience because it differs from your own?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The best teachers at ACHS will flock to Wakefield in the next 1-2 years. Those that haven’t already, that is.

I wouldn't be surprised. ACHS staff seem to be in mourning since the announcement. It's obvious he's very well respected.

I've read a few rumors on Twitter that leaving was not his choice.

There is rampant crime, gangs, drugs and violence at ACHS. I'm told he wasn't interested in doing anything about it but people are unhappy and waking up to the situation at ACHS. Impossible to keep this stuff quiet now so time for him to leave. Especially since he advocated strongly for having one high school with 4,500 kids and people are finally turning on that now.

Time to get out of the mess he helped create.

Leaving the sinking ship.

That he helped build.

[Anonymous]

Arlington has three high schools and two mid-size high school programs so his past statement is not entirely relevant to APS. Wakefield should be a very good fit, with less stress.

Interestingly, Wakefield manages open campus lunch much better than in Alexandria, despite similar demographics. Wakefield is a much smaller school than ACHS, which might have something to do with it. I think Alexandria could really benefit from two high schools with all the growth.

Less stress? You think having a student die of an overdose, and another APS student break in to the school to hunt down another student, is not stressful? Both of these things happened at Wakefield this year. Pay attention.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think ACPS and APS pay is pretty similar, but if you're a long time employee, then you have missed some increases for at least 3-4 years when the school board didn't approve it. So, if you move over and APS counts all your years of experience, then you will make more.

They won’t count all your insurance and you’ll pay a lot more for your benefits in APS but I’d still rather work in Arlington.

You mean they won't count all your experience? How so? APS pay scale is not very clear to read, so please shed some light on it!

Yes, I meant experience. In the past it’s said steps do not equal experience. Other counties do this too, many have maximum entry steps

Arlington has a much higher max entry step than most other districts. Fairfax maxes at like 13 but I’ve know people to get 18 or 19 in APS. They’re much more likely to negotiate than in the past.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Arlington has three high schools and two mid-size high school programs so his past statement is not entirely relevant to APS. Wakefield should be a very good fit, with less stress.

Interestingly, Wakefield manages open campus lunch much better than in Alexandria, despite similar demographics. Wakefield is a much smaller school than ACHS, which might have something to do with it. I think Alexandria could really benefit from two high schools with all the growth.

Less stress? You think having a student die of an overdose, and another APS student break in to the school to hunt down another student, is not stressful? Both of these things happened at Wakefield this year. Pay attention.

Probably you should pay attention, because ACHS has "incidents" that would warrant calls to police (but they don't) every week. It seems the new principal will definitely see his new job as much less stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Arlington has three high schools and two mid-size high school programs so his past statement is not entirely relevant to APS. Wakefield should be a very good fit, with less stress.

Interestingly, Wakefield manages open campus lunch much better than in Alexandria, despite similar demographics. Wakefield is a much smaller school than ACHS, which might have something to do with it. I think Alexandria could really benefit from two high schools with all the growth.

Less stress? You think having a student die of an overdose, and another APS student break in to the school to hunt down another student, is not stressful? Both of these things happened at Wakefield this year. Pay attention.

Sadly, ACHS has dealt with many more incidents of a similar nature. I mean, last academic year ended with reverting to weeks of virtual school after one student killed another after dismissal and there were concerns about retaliatory action such that they couldn’t even hold in person school on campus safely. And nothing is changing within the system to create long-lasting improvements. There a lot more systemic barriers within ACPS than APS.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Arlington has three high schools and two mid-size high school programs so his past statement is not entirely relevant to APS. Wakefield should be a very good fit, with less stress.

Interestingly, Wakefield manages open campus lunch much better than in Alexandria, despite similar demographics. Wakefield is a much smaller school than ACHS, which might have something to do with it. I think Alexandria could really benefit from two high schools with all the growth.

Less stress? You think having a student die of an overdose, and another APS student break in to the school to hunt down another student, is not stressful? Both of these things happened at Wakefield this year. Pay attention.

Sadly, ACHS has dealt with many more incidents of a similar nature. I mean, last academic year ended with reverting to weeks of virtual school after one student killed another after dismissal and there were concerns about retaliatory action such that they couldn’t even hold in person school on campus safely. And nothing is changing within the system to create long-lasting improvements. There a lot more systemic barriers within ACPS than APS.

Oh, that is horrific, I’m sorry, I didn’t know. How did Mr. Balas handle that entire situation? I’m concerned that due to the systemic… deficiencies in the Alexandria system, he is used to not timely calling the police, not being transparent, and aiding efforts to sweep significant incidents under the rug, and he would likewise portray this to all staff. This is REALLY not someone I want for APS, but I’m glad to hear otherwise?